2015-2016
John Marshall
High School
Senior Seminar
Handbook
John Marshall High School Introduction to Senior Seminar
What is Senior Seminar?
Senior Seminar is designed to provide you with the opportunity to apply all that you have learned in twelve years of school to a project which will challenge all of your abilities, stretch your limitations, and reward you immensely!
Senior Seminar consists of four major components: work experience, community service, training/instructional sessions, and presentation. This handbook will guide you through the process. It includes the information and forms you will need to complete the project. The Senior Seminar portfolio is a requirement that must be completed successfully in order to graduate.
When do I work on this project? There are several options in order to complete the requirement. There will be six assigned days during the year that students will meet to complete their job shadowing hours. They are outlined in that section of your handbook. These absences will not be counted as excused or unexcused. Students that need six or less credits to graduate will be enrolled in a first hour senior seminar class, all others will have it listed as an 8th hour class on their schedule. The first hour senior seminar class will meet daily, and students enrolled in the 8th hour will be notified of important information through notes or on the bulletin board outside of Mrs. Campbell’s room.
Job Shadowing/work experience- This is the investigation of the profession that the student might choose to pursue for his/her life’s work. The project involves finding what preparation, education, and entrance requirements are needed for that profession and researching what type(s) of work/ duties are performed in that profession. It should also include personal interviews or “shadowing” of a person working in the profession. Tangible proof of the student’s shadowing or aiding that person in the form of signed documentation and other proof is required to accompany student projects.
Community Service/Service Learning- This part of the project allows the student to interact with the community for the betterment of others. The student will donate 25 hours of service to established programs or events sponsored by non-profit community organizations. Tangible proof of the student’s active and significant participation in the form of signed documentation and photos or video is required to accompany any community service project.
Training/instructional sessions- Lessons will be provided for students regarding transitional skills, such as financial literacy, relationship skills, interviewing skills, dressing for success, manners, and resume creation. Guest speakers from colleges, the military and other professions will often be a part of the course. Grades are given for a summary of all guest speaker presentations. If these are missed alternative activities will be given to fulfill this missing grade, but may be off campus and will not be during the school day. Attendance is important!
Presentation and reflection of learning- The presentation is the evidence of each aspect of the project. This includes written reports, reflection questions, time logs, and presentation of all events in a portfolio format.
Job Shadowing/Work
Experience
Materials and
Information
Date requirements- Your work job shadowing/ work experience have dates in which you must be present at your assigned and approved location. These dates will not be counted against your absence total. The dates are as follows:
September 16, 2015 October 7, 2015 November 4, 2015
December 2, 2015 January 13, 2016 February 3, 2016
March 4, 2016 (alternate date or work day)
Choosing your job shadowing/work experience- Students should choose a career in which they are interested and that requires college or technical training. If the student is a member of the Finance Academy, they will either have the experience arranged for them, or they should choose a location in the finance field. Once a student locates a person in their chosen field, they should ask if they are interested in serving as their job shadowing/work experience location for six days during the upcoming school year. Students are responsible for their own transportation and any costs associated with their placement, unless otherwise specified. Students should choose a community or businessperson in close proximity to their home to make this easier. Mentors can’t be parents or siblings and must be at least 21 years old. No home based businesses or 6-12 schools will be permitted. The job shadowing/work experience also cannot be the place the student performs their community service. Please be aware that medical and mental health career areas are difficult places to find mentoring opportunities because of confidentiality. Personal connections and private offices seem to be the best way to find mentoring prospects in this area. Students can’t propose a business where they are currently employed or have ever been employed, nor can they receive any form of payment during this process, unless arranged through the academy. Students that participated to completion a summer mentoring program through the Finance Academy will have completed all requirements of the job shadowing/work experience for senior seminar. Only one JM student can be with a mentor. Once a site is chosen for their job shadowing/work experience, students should complete a proposal sheet and return it to their senior seminar instructor for approval.
Contacting a potential site for job shadowing/work experience
GETTING READY
1. Find a quiet place to call. There should be no interruptions. No loud music or noise.
2. Have paper, pencil, and the script.
3. Sound friendly and cheerful. Most people enjoy becoming involved with schools, but if they decline, say, “thank you for your time.” Don’t be discouraged.
4. Talk slowly and clearly. Speak up but not too loud. Don't chew gum or eat while on the phone.
5. Be polite and patient. If the person being called is busy, ask when they can be called back.
6. If a secretary answers, it is appropriate to explain to them the need. They often run everything!
7. Always thank people for their time!
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
• Identify yourself and tell him/her you are a student at John Marshall High School.
• Tell them the purpose of the call.
• Ask to be connected to someone that might be interested in providing assistance
• Once the potential mentor is on the phone, explain what will be needed from them.
• If he/she agrees to be your mentor, set up an appointment to meet.
• If he/she cannot be a mentor, ask him/her to suggest someone else in the same field.
• Thank the person you are calling.
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
Hello, my name is ______, and I'm a student at John Marshall High School. I’m involved in a Senior Project that includes writing a research paper on a topic/issue of my choice and completing a product that is related to my topic. My topic is ______and for my product I would like to ______. I have been asked to find someone in the community who would be willing to assist me in my product. I was wondering whether you would be interested in mentoring me. (Wait for a response)
Tell the person what is involved in being a mentor and set up an appointment for an interview. Answer any other questions he/she may have. Thank the person for his/ her time.
Documentation of work experience/internship for portfolio-
1. Signed work experience/internship time log
2. Visual documentation- photographs or video of a day’s activities
3. career report
4. Mentor evaluation
5. Thank you note to mentor
Mentor Manners for Project work
Once an appropriate mentor has been chosen, please remember this is a community member who is a specialist, and they need to be treated with courtesy and respect. Below are listed a few ideas to keep in mind while working with mentors.
· Be polite and respectful of a mentor’s time. Be on time!
· Ask what attire is appropriate for their work place.
· Be aware of procedures for lunch and parking.
· Have the mentor sign and fill out papers well before deadlines.
· Students are required to work the same scheduled time as the mentor. Any deviation from that should be approved through Mrs. Campbell and then notification should be given to the mentor, so think ahead. If they start at 9 and end at 5, so does the student. A minimum of six hours should be worked each mentor day.
· Thank the mentor at the end of the project with a handwritten note, as specified.
Job Shadowing/Work Experience Proposal
Directions: To receive approval for your project, fill out this proposal sheet clearly and completely.
Student Name:______Student ID#-______
Student phone number-______alt. number-______
Student email-______
Profession being studied-______
Mentor’s Name and title-______
Mentor’s phone number-______
Mentor’s email-______
Mentor’s Business name-______
Business address with zip-______
Business phone number-______
1. Provide a brief description of what the organization your mentor works for does ______
______
2. Provide specific information regarding work start and end times, parking, & lunch: ______
______
3. Provide information about what the student can expect to experience at the organization.
______
4. Explain the dress code and any safety regulations.
______
5. Please list any other information to be shared with the student prior to the job shadowing experience. ______
______
______
Student seminar instructor approval
Mentor Agreement Form
Mentors must:
have three years or more of professional experience in the field. Should not be a family member of the student. Should be at least 21 years of age.
Mentors should:
Assist the student in completing necessary forms. Provide guidance on the project.
Be a resource for the student.
Coach the student with inspiration and enthusiasm.
Be available on the specified dates of the job shadowing/work experience.
Learning objectives for the experience:
· See how the knowledge gained at school is used on the job.
· To understand what skills I need to get a good job.
· To find out more about the workplace they are visiting.
· To see how technology is used on the job.
· To explore new career ideas for their future.
· To learn how much education they will need to get the job they want.
· To understand how learning and earning are connected.
MENTOR AGREEMENT
Parent Release and Permission Form
Student: ______
The undersigned, being the parent or guardian of the above student, hereby authorizes this student to attend and participate in the John Marshall High School Senior Project for the current school year. It is understood and agreed that transportation for this student to and from the location of the Senior Project site is the responsibility of the student and the parent(s) or guardians). The undersigned acknowledges that there is insurance coverage provided by student, parent, or guardian for student while traveling to and from the location of the Senior Project site and that the amount of this coverage is satisfactory to the undersigned.
In consideration of the training and experience that this student will receive through this program, the undersigned agrees to release and to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, the Oklahoma City Public School District, its employees, and representatives and the employer of community facilitator/mentor and their employees, agents and representatives employed in the position to provide such transportation services from any claims or liability of any kind arising out of this program including, without limitation, injuries to student, or third parties, as a result of action or inaction of student. It is also understood that parents/guardians will have knowledge of the students stated activities during the experiential phase as well as any products and their content that is produced as a result of the Senior Project. Intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned executes this Authorization and Release on the date indicated below.
______
Signature of Parent or Guardian (Date)
Phone number-______
Email address-______
John Marshall High School Senior Project Code of Ethics
I understand that I am solely responsible for completing a Senior Project as part of my graduation requirements. I recognize that all work related to this project must be originated by me and me alone. Honor and integrity exemplifies my responsibility for completing this project. Therefore, I pledge to the following:
J I must meet all project deadlines.
J I will complete all of my research on my own.
J I will write my own paper and will not plagiarize any part of it.
J I will not use a paper or any information collected and/or organized by any other student or adult.
J I will not use a purchased or Internet research paper.
J I will learn research techniques and MLA (Modern Language Association) format as a component of the English department curriculum and will type my paper in MLA format.
J I will complete all components of my project/product with potential guidance from my mentor.
J I will collect all required parent, mentor and senior seminar approval forms with authentic signatures for my Senior Project.
J My portfolio will reflect only the work I have completed during my Senior Project journey.
I understand that plagiarism is the unlawful claiming of another person’s work as my own. Furthermore, I understand that any incidents of plagiarism or a violation of Senior Project ethics in any part of my Senior Project work will result in an automatic failing grade, a referral to the administration. Outcomes with the administration and sr. seminar sponsor may include but are not limited to the suspension of privileges to participate in any or all senior activities including graduation exercises. In addition, students run the risk of not graduating from JMHS. By signing below, I agree to meet all of the above criteria while completing my Senior Project and failure to adhere to these ―will result in failure of the course.
Student’s Full Name (printed)______
Student’s Signature ______
Parent/Guardian Signature ______
1
Job Shadowing/Work Experience Time Log
Date of Experience / Time ofExperience / Description of Work / Mentor’s Signature
Wednesday, September 16th
Wednesday, October 7th
Wednesday, November 4th
Wednesday, December 2nd
Wednesday, January 13th
Wednesday, February 3rd
Wednesday, March 4th (alternate or work day)
1